UAE garden calendar: what to do in your garden each month

In Dubai, the main planting and pruning season runs from October to March, the shoulder months of April and September need care, and June to August is about protecting what you have. There is no frost risk. This calendar is general guidance, so adjust it for your plants.

Key takeaways

• October to March is the best window for planting lawns, shrubs and trees.
• Stop pruning and fertilising from about May to August, when plants are under heat stress.
• Reduce watering gradually from October, and increase it from March.
• Water early in the morning year-round.
• The dormant summer months are when watering mistakes do the most damage.

What should you do in October and November?

The growing season begins. These are among the best months for garden work.

• Plant lawns, shrubs, trees and hedges. In November, add vegetables, herbs and winter annuals such as petunias, pansies, snapdragons and marigolds.
• Prune and shape hedges and shrubs, including structural work on mature plants.
• Resume fertilising after the summer break, with extra attention to lawns.
• Cut back watering from summer settings. Keeping a summer schedule through October can waterlog beds as evaporation drops.
• Check for scale insects and other pests that built up over summer.
• Ask a licensed pest control company about palm inspections if you have date or Phoenix palms.

What should you do in December and January?

Temperatures are comfortable, roughly in the teens to mid 20s Celsius, humidity is lower and most plants are growing.

• Plant vegetables, herbs, annuals, shrubs and trees. Transplanting is gentle on plants in this weather.
• Light shaping on bougainvillea and roses.
• Slow-release fertiliser for shrubs and trees, and a liquid feed for vegetables and annuals every couple of weeks.
• Water less often, and check the soil before watering, because evaporation is slow in cool weather.
• Watch for aphids on new growth, and for mildew on roses during cool, damp nights. Thin the beds so air can circulate.
• December is a good month to plan bigger changes for the year ahead.

What should you do in February and March?

February is comfortable and March is the last good month for major planting, as the heat arrives.

• February is the last good time for annual vegetables before the heat shuts them down.
• Do structural pruning on hedges and large shrubs by mid-March.
• Give lawns and beds a final full feed before the summer slow-down.
• Raise watering frequency as temperatures pass 30°C. Check that emitters and sprinkler heads are clear.
• Look for spider mites on bougainvillea, hibiscus and jasmine. Check the undersides of the leaves.

What should you do in April and May?

The garden moves into summer mode.

• Avoid new planting unless you can water and shade it well. Bougainvillea is one of the few plants that settles in without fuss this time of year.
• Stop heavy pruning. Wounds heal slowly in heat. Light deadheading is fine.
• Feed lightly in April, then stop fertilising from May. The roots can't use feed in peak heat.
• Switch the main watering cycle to the early morning, and increase runtimes as the heat builds.
• April is the time to have an irrigation audit done. Run a screwdriver test in a few beds to check water is reaching the roots. A clogged emitter can kill a shrub within days in May.
• Spider mites and whitefly rise in spring heat. Inspect weekly.

What should you do from June to August?

Temperatures commonly pass 40°C and most ornamentals slow down.

• Don't plant, prune or fertilise. Remove dead material only.
• Keep the watering schedule, and check that no zone runs long enough to leave standing water.
• Don't try to cure heat stress with extra water. Over-watering in heat can rot roots, and plants may die in September from damage done in August.
• Check potted plants daily. Terracotta dries fastest. Move pots into shade where you can.
• If you're away, water pots deeply before you leave, move them to shade, and ask someone to check once. Leave the AC on, because a closed, hot villa can harm indoor plants.

See prepare your garden for a Dubai summer and the summer watering guide for more.

What should you do in September?

September is the recovery window, with temperatures dropping from the second week.

• Prepare beds by adding compost, refreshing mulch and clearing dead material.
• Begin sowing seeds for October transplanting.
• Light shaping as new growth appears.
• Start fertilising again at the end of the month, especially lawns.
• Begin reducing watering as temperatures drop.
• Check for scale insects and other pests that built up in summer.

Should you hand the schedule to someone else?

If you'd rather not manage this yourself, our garden maintenance team works across Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. Twice-weekly maintenance is from AED 500 a month on a 6-month minimum contract, and other plans are quoted after a free site visit. See also new grass: the first 30 days and low-water plants for Dubai villa gardens.

Reviewed by Hamza, site supervisor at Green Beetle.